Redtail Rise to the space

Anyone welcome! (@Nova Rose feel free to jump in, too, if you want! ;D)

They left the wretched marshes, he and his new disciple of Raas. It was a place of destruction and evil spirits. The trees that had been uprooted there were to surely have released those trapped within their boughs and, ever since, the souls had been wandering lost there. It was the only reason Phares could think as to why he was so uneasy there. Therefore, he was eager to move on.

They headed east still, to a small, flat-topped mountain. Nova Rose had taken leave for the moment, off to hunt while Phares went to scout and commune.

This territory had been touched by disaster as well, it seemed, though one different to the marshes. The male stopped in a patch of sunlight upon the slopes of the mountain, turning over the dirt with a deft paw, revealing charred wood bark underneath. He peered at it, curious, before looking upwards, muzzle pointing to Raas who hung high in the sky. What a dread-filled land, this was! What had the heartless beings who lived here done to deserve such a fate?

A week had passed since the cleansing and Reek Redtail was no more. His sins had been wiped clean by the forgiving light of Raas and he was reborn. A clean slate and a new man. Hiram. It would take some getting used to, of course, but it brought the Cardinal great pride that he had finally shed the mark of his illigitamate birth. But, to Raas, his past of tribulation no longer mattered. He no longer needed to bear the emotional scar. It had taken so long, but he was finally free.

He stole away from the territory of the grotto and took a walk west into the neighboring territory of Redtail Rise. With the light of the Daystar guiding him, Hiram wanted to get as close as he could to the Lord's warmth before he settled in to make his morning prayers.

As he scaled the burnt slopes of the mountain, Reek was reminded of the fire that had driven him away from this place -- his home. Now he knew it had been his fault. His sexual impurity, his infidelity had caused this. However, if he could beg the forgiveness of Raas, perhaps he could extend his healing to this land as well. 

He had yet to notice the other priest who had been called to the mountain.

Nova could see the bad in nothing this day, finding herself too full of the light and happiness of being a follower of Raas. Where Phares saw destruction, Nova saw the things around her as a new start. Still they went on, eventually splitting off to do their own thing temporarily. She would meet up with him again soon, but for now was content to watch him on top of the rise while she stalked a rabbit. Pulling herself closer on pure white paws, Nova used a burst of that happy energy to successfully catch the damn thing, giving thanks to the Daystar for its life and death. 
Heading back to the red man with her pride in her jaws, Nova dropped the pale mammal at his paws to offer the first half. In the distance, she could see Hiram: unaware of the fact that he too was a person of Raas, and took a wary step towards him.

He continued up the slopes, head bowed as he travelled and inspecting what the mountain had to offer — which wasn't much. Still, it led him upwards, closer to Him, and so Phares didn't idle. He had neared the top when he suddenly heard the soft footfalls of another, and turned to greet Nova, noting the rabbit she held in her jaws. His grin widened as she dropped it before him, and the man dipped his head in thanks before his attention was stolen away by her distracted gaze.

He too stared in that direction, spotting the dark figure that had joined them upon the mountain. He hadn't seemed to notice them yet, and Phares debated whether or not to approach. Though he felt confident today, even more so with Nova by his side. Casting her a quick glance, he picked the slain creature up and began to slowly pace towards the stranger, tail waving easily behind him.

He trudged along, blissfully unaware of the company that joined him on the mountain. That is, until Hiram crossed a scent that was vaguely familiar. He nearly shrugged it off, seeing as there would be many familiar scents lingering around Redtail Rise: the site of his former claim. But this one, it did not belong to the Cardinal's older claim. It was something he recognized from his more recent history. Stopping in place, he scrunched his brow and sniffed at the air.

There.

He turned his head too see a man (of which Reek would have believed to be Kesheph had his features not been so pointedly masculine), and with him was a woman. Old and familiar. She had been the one to bring news of Tambourine; his only living son. For a moment, fear gripped him and he hoped something hadn't happened to his son that would warrant her presence, but as the male approached in a friendly matter -- Reek knew that they bore no bad news.

"What brings you so close to the grotto?" He asked, cautious. His small band of wolves were the only bastion of Raas within the wilds... The rest were outsiders -- afflicted. All to be regarded with caution.

It wasn't until the man looked at them, approached, did Nova realize it was Reek: the father of Tavi's son. She'd barely noticed how close they were to his home, in fact, but now the old woman could be faced with a choice. Should Reek ask of Tamborine, how much would she tell him of the boy and his home. 
If it was what Raas so wished, it would be done. Perhaps keeping the father from his family was one of her many sins, one thing she needed to right before her rebirth. 
             "Reek, I didn't realize our closeness. I follow Phares now, priest of Raas, and hope to be reborn anew."
Why she told him, she did not know. Perhaps some part inside her, the vanity and the pride in her heart, just ached to tell everyone she knew. To bring everyone to the light, to happiness, to warmth!

He was oblivious to the connection Nova and this stranger shared, and so was eager to break the ice between the three as the man regarded them warily. Though no sooner had he thought of a proper greeting and placed the rabbit at his feet then had his companion started to speak. He turned to her in surprise, ears pivoting forward as he quickly looked back to the darker male, this Reek.

"You know of this man?" he said quietly to her, before his features brightened and he quickly added to her introduction. "Greetings, indeed, we are both followers of the faith, apologies for straying so close to your grotto."

She spoke, addressing him by his dead name. However, before he could correct her and explain his rebirth -- she meantioned Raas, the Daystar. The Cardinal Hiram was taken aback with joyous surprise. The tension he felt quickly receded as he realized he was joined by both a brother and sister in the faith. This man beside her, a priest, had surely been guided by Raas to Hiram's doorstep.

"Not Reek, not anymore," he said, shaking his head with a friendly smile. "I too have been reborn with the purifying light of the Daystar. He has granted me a new name; I am the Cardinal Hiram"

"Let us not mistake His will for coincidence," he continued excitedly, allowing his tail to wave behind him. "Surely He has sent you here to help me build His church?" Had they heard his call? They must have to have been guided so close. Hiram was right to place his trust in the Lightbringer -- and though he had stripped him of his disloyal friends, He brought him those that would be truly loyal to the cause.

Phares added his bit, and with a smile she nodded to his question. Before she could answer better, Reek spoke and told her of his own rebirth. Elated, the elder loosed a joyus whine and dipped her head in respect to the Cardinal. 
                   "Cardinal Hiram, my apologies. Congratulations on your new identity."
He next interpreted the will of Raas, and Nova glanced to Phares for a confirmation or not. He seemed friendly enough now, and so the golden woman was open. Admittedly, a place with more than just her and Phares would be nice, a place to learn and appease the Daystar. The Grotto was close to Grace, as well, so a visit would not be out of the question.

The man was quick to correct Nova, and Phares quirked one ear in interest as he spoke of his new name Hiram. Not just that, but he was also a Cardinal. The priest was gripped by suspicion but the stranger knew Raas' other name; he seemed genuine. Nova was trusting of the man, too, and he watched as she gave him a bow and congratulations. When she glanced to him, he offered a small nod, keeping his scepticism from showing until he knew more of this Hiram. Purified and reborn though he was, he hadn't the look of one native to the Shrine of Okysus.

Not that Phares was unhappy that he knew of Him. He kept his features bright and welcoming, giving the Cardinal a small nod of respect. That the faith was already here was a sign of Raas' will that this was the place to settle — Phares was concrete in his belief.

"The lord has guided us to you," he agreed, dark eyes focused on the ragged man. "But where did you come to learn of Him? You are an outsider...were an outsider." The priest turned away in mild embarrassment at the slip up before continuing. "How were you shed of your sins?" Or rather who conducted such a rite.

Hiram nodded with thanks as the woman expressed her good tidings. Being a new convert like himself, the Cardinal didn't expect any questions from her about his recent conversion... The other, on the otherhand -- an established priest -- was sure to inquire deeper into how he found the faith. And so, he did. Hiram saw no problem with explaining. He regarded his fellow priest with a smile and began.

"I lived a life of sin and misery -- Raas, He broke me down and exposed my soul to change. When I was at my lowest point, the Daystar guided me to a Seer who goes by the name of Kesheph." It was the turning point, he figured. The moment in which Raas had saved his life. "She spoke of Raas and his forgiveness... and I was saved."

He paused briefly and allowed a smile to spread across his face before continuing on. "She preformed the purification ritual on the night of Tammuz." With that, his sins had been wiped away.

Nova could feel her teachers hesitance, but as she looked at him could see nothing wrong. Nonetheless, she backed up next to him once more and roll back on her haunches to sit. The golden woman listened to them for a moment, simply enjoying the warmth of Raas on her back. They spoke of things she knew not yet of, but she listened carefully. Like her, Hiram had been guilt ridden, had a heavy burden on his shoulders in which he placed there himself. Raas took him in as his own and broke away the badness in his soul. Exterminating the darkness within him, the Daystar built him up as his own vessel. How glorious .
     Heart pounding, Nova awaited the next move. She would follow Phares wherever he chose for them, for it was he who interpreted the will of Raas and he who had found her on that beach. Would they go along with Reek, reborn, follow the Cardinal Hiram, or would Phares lead them elsewhere?
Truly, it was up to the Daystar to guide their paws.

Without a hint of hesitation, the stranger obliged and shared with them the story of his purification, and Phares listened intently. Kesheph. He had not heard of this name before, and his ears flicked in mild surprise at the mention that she was a woman. A female seer? A rare thing. Was she, too, an outsider reborn — or had others from the Shrine found this land?

Phares' wariness still remained, though it lessened the more he regarded Hiram, especially with the mention of the Tammuz. A holy day, one where Raas was at his strongest and allowed mortals to bask in his light for longer than usual. The priest nodded, convinced, and returned the Cardinal's smile with a polite one of his own. He noticed Nova Rose's silent glance, and looked to her before he faced Hiram again. "I am eager to meet this Kesheph," he said.

The old woman remained silent, but it was easy for Hiram to tell that both strangers were interested by the explanation of his conversion. He could see it written across their faces -- especially that of the priest's. He smiled, nodding as the other spoke. The rarity of woman to rise so far in the faith was not lost on Reek... Even rarer still were those who spoke the will of Raas. The Seer, she was a direct conduit to the Lord Himself. Her word was the word of God.

"Come with me," he said, shepherding the priest and his follower toward the grotto. "Join my flock and I will take you to her." They would follow, he was sure. To speak to the Seer was a rare opportunity to speak to Raas directly.

Phares seemed to loosen up a little bit, voicing his wish to meet Hiram's Seer. Without pause, the thin black male intited them into his church. An entre pack, dedicated to Raas, somewhere for the old woman to learn. Perhaps this Seer would be able to teach her things even Phares couldn't, or maybe Hiram could give her a bit of guidance. 
From where it came didn't matter, for one way or another Rass was forgiving her and teaching her to live with Him beside her. Nova itched to go to Reek's side, tell him to take her with him and she would join with no questions, be loyal with every cell in her being. 
Yet, again, she turned to fix her teacher with spectral eyes, keeping them on him with a tip of her head. A clear question: would there travels resume, or would they be joining the church of the Daystar? Still she kept her tongue on hold, knowing less than these two and knowing her opinion was just as known without the words spilling from her mouth anyway. Her tail wagged slightly, and her ears were cupped excitedly towards the Grotto, as if she was listening to the activity in it now. If only, right? At least if they were to stay here, she and Grace could meet in the middle of neutral territory.

His invitation made Phares' heart flutter in excitement — though he quickly quelled it, scolding himself for being so child-like. He, along with the other young priests of the Shrine, had been taught of Raas from a respected Seer, but to meet another (and a female one nonetheless!) would be a wonderful opportunity indeed. Not only that, but they were offered to join, to become part of the pack. His tail waved and he looked to his follower once more, acknowledging her questioning gaze with a smile.

It dawned on him that she was following his lead, that by bringing her into the light, she had become his own follower. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but it sparked a feeling in his chest, one of satisfaction and pride. To rid one wolf of her sins was something, but to convert others from this tainted land to the faith...he was determined to see Raas' light spread further.

The priest held his head a little higher as he nodded to Nova, a silent answer to her questions. Yes. They would follow. "Guide us, Hiram," he responded to the Cardinal, turning back to him and awaiting to be led to the rest of the flock.

Welcome to the grotto you two! I'll go ahead and get this archived. Y'all go ahead and thread away!

So wrapped up in the blessing this had been, Hiram had nearly forgotten about the prayers he wished to make on the mountain's peak. It was no matter though, the flame kissed Rise would alway remain on the horizen. He would soon return to the place he once called home and it would be blessed, but today was not that day.

He nodded. "Come," repeated the cardinal once again. This time, he turned toward the grotto and began to move. A shepherd, herding his flock back home.